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What a UK journalism CV is actually for
A journalism CV has one job: to get you an interview. Editors read CVs in 20–30 seconds. In that time, they are looking for three things: can you do the job (clips), are you qualified (NCTJ status), and do you know what you are doing (clear, well-written presentation). Everything else is secondary.
A journalism CV is not an autobiography. It is not a comprehensive work history. It is a curated argument that you are the right person for the specific role at the specific publication. It should be one page, clean, and front-loaded with your strongest evidence.
The single most important element is your portfolio link. If an editor cannot click through to published work within the first five seconds of reading your CV, you have already lost. Lead with your portfolio URL in your contact header, make it clickable in digital submissions, and ensure every link on the site works.
UK journalism CV structure
1. Header (name + contact)
Your name (large, bold). Phone number. Professional email. Portfolio URL (linked). LinkedIn URL (optional). No photo. No address (unless location is relevant to the role).
2. Profile summary (3–4 lines)
One tight paragraph: who you are, what you specialise in, what you are looking for. Tailor this for every application. Name the outlet and why you want to work there. Include shorthand speed and NCTJ status here if applicable.
3. Key skills (bullet list)
Shorthand speed (e.g. Teeline 100 wpm), media law knowledge (NCTJ), specific software (InDesign, CMS names), multimedia skills (video, audio, data), SEO, specific languages if relevant.
4. Selected clips / publications
List 4–6 of your strongest published pieces with outlet name and date. Or list outlets you have written for. Do not list everything — select the most impressive and relevant. Portfolio URL covers the rest.
5. Employment history (reverse chronological)
Job title, outlet, dates. 2–3 bullet points per role: what you covered, notable stories, any editorial responsibility. Focus on journalism work; condense older non-journalism roles to one line each.
6. Education
Degree (if applicable) with class and subject. NCTJ Diploma level and provider. Any other relevant training. Keep brief — two or three lines per qualification.
Embedded CV template
YOUR NAME
07700 900000 | your@email.com | yourportfolio.com | linkedin.com/in/yourname
PROFILE
News reporter with [X] years’ experience covering [beat] for [publication]. NCTJ Diploma (Gold Standard / Proficiency). Teeline shorthand 100 wpm. Seeking a [role] at [outlet name] to [specific reason]. Available immediately / from [date].
KEY SKILLS
Teeline shorthand 100 wpm · NCTJ media law · FOIA requests · Video/audio editing · Data journalism · SEO writing · [CMS name]
SELECTED CLIPS
[Outlet name], [date] — “[Headline]”
[Outlet name], [date] — “[Headline]”
[Outlet name], [date] — “[Headline]”
Full portfolio: yourportfolio.com
EXPERIENCE
[Job Title], [Publication], [Month Year] – Present
· Covered [beat] — produced X stories per week to daily deadlines
· [Notable story, award, or achievement]
EDUCATION
NCTJ Diploma in Journalism ([level]) — [Provider], [Year]
[Degree] [Subject] — [University], [Year]
Red flags on journalism CVs
- No portfolio link — or a portfolio link that is broken or empty.
- Two or more pages for a candidate with fewer than five years of experience.
- A generic profile summary that does not name the outlet or the beat.
- A photo — unnecessary and reads as unfamiliar with UK conventions.
- Listing every piece you have ever written rather than curating the strongest.
- Using "passionate about journalism" — this is the most overused phrase in journalism CVs.
Journalism CV checklist
- Portfolio URL is in the header and is clickable and working.
- CV is one page (two maximum if 5+ years of experience).
- Profile summary is tailored to this specific outlet and role.
- NCTJ Diploma level and shorthand speed are listed in the profile or key skills section.
- Selected clips are listed with outlet name and date — the strongest first.
- No photo included.
- No personal interests unless directly journalism-relevant.
- No typos — a journalism CV with a typo is often immediately rejected.
- Employment history is reverse chronological with journalism roles expanded and older non-journalism roles condensed.
- CV has been read aloud to check for awkward phrasing.
Complete your application with a strong cover letter
A great CV needs a great cover letter. Use our cover letter template guide and pitch email generator.
Common mistakes
- Not tailoring the profile summary — editors can tell when a CV has been sent to fifty people unchanged.
- Listing job duties rather than achievements — not "responsible for writing stories" but "produced five bylines per week on the crime patch."
- Hiding the portfolio link at the bottom — it belongs in the header.
- Including "references available on request" — unnecessary; all employers assume this.
- Forgetting to check all links work before submitting — a broken portfolio link is a dealbreaker.
- Using a creative or unusual CV layout — journalism CVs should be clean and readable, not designed.
Related guides
Related guides
Primary sources
- NCTJ — journalism qualifications and CV advice— NCTJ
- NUJ — careers resources and CV guidance— National Union of Journalists
- Press Gazette — journalism jobs and industry standards— Press Gazette
- BBC Academy — journalism career resources— BBC
- Reuters Institute — journalism career research— University of Oxford
- Guardian — journalism jobs section— The Guardian